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-   -   Deburring. How picky? (https://vansairforce.net/community/showthread.php?t=177454)

Outrider 12-04-2019 09:19 PM

Deburring. How picky?
 
I?ve been putting together my shop and practicing on a couple Vans toolbox kits. The first one I barely deburred at all because I just wanted to get to the riveting part. The second one I hand sanded all the cut edges I could reach with sandpaper. I noticed there were a lot of little nooks and crannies I couldn?t easily reach with any tools without spending an inordinate amount of time.

That brought the question to mind: Just how picky do I need to be about deburring and polishing every single edge? I imagine on the plane, just like the tool box, there are a lot of hard to reach places, like the inside of the tabs on wing ribs, etc.

So, do I need to prepare to spend the majority of my build time hunting down and polishing imperfections in hard to reach corners with a jewelers loupe, or is there a happy medium there somewhere, and where would that be exactly?

akabud 12-04-2019 11:06 PM

You don't have to deburr every thing. Just the parts you don't want to crack.

Pittsartist 12-05-2019 01:14 AM

Sound like you may not have a Scotchbrite wheel ?

I'd sooner cut a good sized lawn with scissors than debur an RV kit without one !

Seriously, if not then it's probably one of the best tooling investments you can make :D

Personally, I try to debur all the edges of all my parts. Once you have the right set of tools this is not too difficult ... but still takes time.

My rough process is

1) Break long edges and large diameter radiuses with a deburing tool (swisstool) or flat file
2) Get into corners with a round needle file
3) Use the scotchbrite wheel to finesse
4) 240 grit abrasive to finish. I know when it's done because I dont feel any risk of cutting myself on the part and cannot feel any nicks or irregularities in the edges.

Use your imagination on where cracks are most likley to form ... but pay very particular attention to critical areas (eg If you do an 'Emp kit 1st then anywhere around the H/S centre section)

As I said, it takes time ...... but you are building an aeroplane

tgmillso 12-05-2019 02:51 AM

https://www.vansaircraft.com/wp-cont.../RV-ALL_05.pdf

It?s all covered in section 5.2 of the manual.

Tom.
RV-7

rocketman1988 12-05-2019 06:43 AM

Debur
 
Something to be said, as well, is that a lot of people overdo the deburring process.

You do not need to polish every edge to a mirror finish, and you do not need to remove a lot of material...

Look at the mainstream GA aircraft that have been flying for 50+ years; run your finger over the inside edge of a lightening hole (carefully)...

Draker 12-05-2019 08:01 AM

I do 90% of my deburring on my Scotchbrite wheel. The inside areas of flanges and relief holes are tricky, and for these I use hand tools. I don't go for a mirror finish either, or sand them down, but I do make sure I can run my finger down each edge and not feel any nicks or deformities.

Also, don't use a Scotchbrite wheel on large skins or you'll get this: http://www.vansairforce.com/communit...d.php?t=156306

Robin8er 12-05-2019 08:28 AM

I think somewhere in the Van's manual its says something to the effect of "if you can run your finger across the edge without fear of being cut then its good". I tend to agree with the.

Just round the corners and make sure the edges are smooth. The deburring wheel works great, but so do files, scotch brite pads, edge deburring tools etc. It usually only takes about 1 minute per part.

Outrider 12-05-2019 09:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pittsartist (Post 1390763)
Sound like you may not have a Scotchbrite wheel ?

I'd sooner cut a good sized lawn with scissors than debur an RV kit without one !

Seriously, if not then it's probably one of the best tooling investments you can make


You guys are helping me fill up my shopping cart over at one of our favorite suppliers.

Which grade of Scotchbrite wheel do you recommend? 7A, 7s or other?

fl-mike 12-05-2019 09:53 AM

The funny thing is that the deburring and smoothing should really be done BEFORE Van's forms the parts. Kind of backwards to remove crack initiators/stress risers AFTER bending!
I would pay good money to Van's to deburr the edges of all formed parts in the flat. Those rib and bulkhead notches and corners are a pain.
I'll (somewhat) gladly do the holes and flat part and sheet edges.

JwWright57 12-05-2019 10:45 AM

Yeah I think everyone has a story about deburring wing ribs. It took me FOREVER on my 12 to do all the ribs. I ended up using sandpaper, deburring tool, Big Scotchbrite wheel on the long edges and a little scotchbrite on the dremel tool.

You can make the dremel tool bits out of these;

http://www.cleavelandtool.com/3M-Cut.../#.XelBhvlKiUk

Cut them into pie shapes and screw onto a dremel mandral


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